10 Places to See Before the End of the World on December 21, 2012

Based on the Mayan calendar, some believe the world will end on December 21, 2012. Will it happen? Well, just in case, here are some places you'll want to consider visiting before the end of days.

And if the world doesn't end, these are also great places to view the first sunrise of 2013.

Machu Picchu

Built by the Inca in the 15th century, Machu Picchu was abandoned a century later. No one knows why. It was discovered by the outside world in 1911 and is a rare culturally intact site, as the Spanish Conquistadors never found it.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Described by one of the first Western visitors in 1586 as "...such extraordinary construction...it is not possible to describe it with a pen," Angkor Wat is the largest Hindu temple complex in the world.

The Serengeti, Tanzania

"The place where the land moves on forever," the Serengeti is about 3/4 the size of Switzerland. Inhabiting this vast expanse is a rich variety of wildlife including elephants, leopards, wildebeest, giraffes, zebras and more.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef is an awe-inspiring coral reef system found off the northeastern coast of Australia. Comprised of hundreds of islands and more than 2,900 individual reefs, it is the largest single structure made by living organisms on the planet and can be seen from space!

Norway's Fjords

Carved by glaciers, the fjords of Norway are found on the country's western coast. Towering cliffs rise above the narrow waterways, creating some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. Though there are fjords located in other parts of the world, the word fjord comes from the Norse word fjǫrðr, and the natural wonder has become a symbol of Norway.

Pyramids of Giza

The pyramids of Giza were built over 4,500 years ago. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and was the tallest manmade structure in the world for more than 3,800 years!

Pamukkale, Turkey

People have been enjoying some spa time in the hot springs and travertine terraces of Pamukkale since the second century B.C. Its name means "cotton castle" in Turkish and is located in the western part of the country. There are twice daily flights from the nearby airport to Istanbul.

Galápago Islands

An archipelago of volcanic islands 620 miles (1,000 km) to the west of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands first appeared on maps in the late 1500s. The stunning landscape is home to fascinating animal species found nowhere else on earth, including giant tortoises, marine iguanas, flightless cormorants and more.

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